Presidental Approval Rating

[cobra de capell]

In 2004, Hillary Clinton spoke in San Francisco and was quoted as saying:

“Many of you are well off enough that [President Bush’s] tax cuts may have helped you. We’re saying that for America to get back on track, we’re probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We’re going to have to take things away from you. We’re going to have to have to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.”

Michelle Obama - universal health care:

“If we don’t wake up as a nation with a new kind of leadership…for how we want this country to work, then we won’t get universal health care,” she said.

“The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more.”

[Bobcat]

Ronbo ....spend 20+ years living off the Govt. tab and rack up half a mil for hip/knee replacements ??? Don`t know what they charge in your area, but from first hand experience ( two hips replaced ) , it was in the $50,000 to $60,000 range for both . Knees are about the same according to my Doctor ... and this was up in Mass . From my experience , you are way off base on that cost . Also , according to my Doctor , the replacements come from a bunch of factors : overweight people put a huge strain on the joints , sports do the same .... and genetics also figure in .
As far as living off the Govt tab .... sorry , my private insurance paid for all of it . If the Govt. would give me all the money back ( with interest ) that I paid over my working life for Medicare Ins etc . , I would gladly tell them to buzz off and take care of myself .
As for your statement about charges the evil hospitals whack the insurance companies with ... there isn`t enough space to get into that . Again , first hand experience as I`m friends with some Doctors and my oldest has been in that field most of her life . Every test in the book ??? It`s called CYA medicine because of suit happy patients etc . She is going through that now on a lawsuit that will be thrown out of court , but the Doctor still has to spend money to defend himself .

[Ronbo]

Nope, ment to say "and the other ailments". If you make it to 85 odds are pretty good you'll rack up that kind of money in medical expenses during that 20yrs since your health will be the worst it's ever been.

I'm trying to address the line about smokers and the BS of how they burden the health care system.

As far as private health care, if your over 65 you're in the select few that has it. CYA? Well, partly. Also to some extent it seems to be arrogance that the medical community wants to preform $200k procedures so you can suffer through another year or two crapping in a bag tied to your hip. The ambulance chasers ability to empty people's bank accounts pales in comparison to the medical communities.

Not to mention the drug companies focus on "maintenance drugs" and not cures. I mean why cure a disease when you can treat it for $40yrs at $500 a month? (or more)

[VRM]

Ronbo,
As far as i am concerned smokers should pay extra just to clean up all the butts they leave lying around!
And I am all in favour of being able to shoot smokers in self defense if they approach me.

Steve

[cobra de capell]

[Don]

White House Press Release:

Hello -

As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.

The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it:

( no link )

Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities.

We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time.

Thank you,
David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President

[Bobcat]

Ronbo .... as far as people reaching 85 and incurring the kind of costs you are talking about , some probably will and some won`t . I just went to a friends`s funeral about 4 weeks ago who was 33 and died from AML .... and their bills were approaching $1 million for the transplant, drugs , chemo etc . ... and her Granny was 90 and in fair health .
Did I mention they had no insurance and were treated in a world class cancer treatment center and have had the bill written off ? Same for my lady`s daughter , who died at 32 of colon cancer ... and received the same quality treatment . Do you think this might have some bearing on the cost of aspirin etc the hospitals incur ??
In my experience , I don`t know any Doctors who push unnecessary operations ... but just like in any other "industry" , I`m sure there are some . However , wouldn`t you want to know what options there were and then make the decision for one more year or not ? That happened to a friend of mine about 3 years ago .
As far as maintenance drugs and not a cure ... I have been told by people in that industry that they would love to be able to come up with a pill to cure a disease ... but in the meantime , the maintenance drugs are the best hope to keep people alive .
No , I`m not a Doctor or in that industry , but I have learned over the years to look at all sides of an issue and not just some spectacular incidents . As you see , I`m a little touchy about this issue after watching three friends get and die from cancer over the last 3 to 4 years ... and I got to see a lot more of the "inside workings" of the medical profession than most do .
Smoking ?? In the two autopsies I was "privileged " to watch , there is a marked difference between a smoker`s lungs and a non smoker ... black vs pink. Are you saying this doesn`t affect your health ??

Bob